Apple finally folds: The Dh8,499 iPhone Duo — the good, the bad and Crackgate
Apple waited seven years after Samsung’s first Galaxy Fold to ship a folding phone. The bet was that patience would buy polish. Ten days after pre-orders opened and three days after it reached customers on October 23, that bet looks half right: the iPhone Duo sold out in minutes and reviewers broadly call it the best-designed foldable yet. Then the inner screens started cracking along the hinge,…
Apple has entered the foldable phone market with the iPhone Duo, a device that sells out quickly and receives praise for its design. The phone, priced at Dh8,499, features a unique titanium frame and IP68 water and dust resistance, making it a standout for its first-generation status. However, the Duo has faced criticism due to screen cracking issues along the hinge and a lack of advanced camera features.
On the positive side, the hinge, build quality, and the matte nano-texture inner display have been highlighted as strengths, with reviewers finding it comfortable to hold compared to other foldables. The device also offers broader screen real estate and a responsive software experience. Yet, the Duo's weight, cramped outer display, and the absence of Face ID or advanced camera features like ProRAW and spatial video are significant downsides.
The lack of Face ID has been particularly criticized, as Apple has replaced it with a side button fingerprint recognition system, which some users find cumbersome. Overall, the iPhone Duo has made a strong initial impression, but whether its compromises are worth the higher price remains to be seen, especially as demand outpaces supply.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
